Entomology

The internationally recognized Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bag, a specially designed bag to prevent insect-caused post-harvest losses for farmers in developing countries, is now commercially available for farmers worldwide.

Invasive ants, with colonies often numbering in the millions, are a problem on every continent except Antarctica. They often enter countries on cargo ships and quickly dominate landscapes, outcompeting native species and disrupting ecological balances. Entomologists have insecticides designed to smell and taste appealing to these ants, but they’re not always effective. Sometimes the ants…

Poisonous baits are designed to smell and taste like foods that pest insects might want to consume, with varying degrees of success in controlling the pests. But a Purdue University entomologist has found a better way — giving the insects exactly what they want rather than a knock-off.

As part of an ongoing trend, enrollment numbers at Purdue’s College of Agriculture – ranked 8th in the world – remained strong, reflecting students’ growing interest in agriculture-related majors. The College of Agriculture, which offers 31 different majors ranging from agribusiness to turf management and wildlife, welcomed 643 new undergraduate students as part of its…

Cover crops have been promoted for their abilities to reduce erosion and retain or enhance soil nutrients. Now there is evidence that they can significantly reduce weed seeds from entering the soil seed bank.

Growers of tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables can extend their growing season and increase yield by placing high tunnels over their cold-sensitive crops, but those tunnels don’t provide the pest protection that has long been assumed.

Purdue University has partnered with AgriNovus on a statewide educational and public awareness campaign that asserts Indiana’s leadership in food and agriculture innovation. The “Time to Tell” campaign shares the role Indiana plays in the agbiosciences industry. Agbiosciences is the term used to describe the intersection of agriculture, life sciences, science and technology. The agbiosciences…

More than three-quarters of Americans would accept release of genetically modified mosquitoes to decrease risk of the Zika virus, but fewer than half accept genetic modification (GM) of animals, grain crops and produce, according to a Purdue University…

August is peak emergence season for the invasive Asian long-horned beetle, a pest that poses a serious threat to shade trees. A Purdue University entomologist is urging people to perform their annual tree checkup for these destructive insects. In just …